Estimating economic and production losses in relation to locomotion score in primiparous Polish Holstein-Friesian cows

• Main Authors: Paweł Żółkiewski, Waldemar Teter, Ewa Januś, Piotr Stanek, Ewelina Flis, Andrzej Bochniak, Monika Różańska-Boczula, Witold Chabuz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of Applied Animal Research
• Subjects: Lameness; robotic milking; housing system; effectiveness of milk production
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2018.1521336
• ISSN: 0971-2119; 0974-1844

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the free approach to automatic milking system of primiparous (PP) Holstein-Friesian cows with varying locomotion score on the milking frequency, yield per milking and daily milk yield in the subsequent phases of lactation, and the consequent production and economical losses. The evaluation of cows’ locomotion was successively repeated in seven consecutive months, using a five-point scale of posture and movement assessment. It has been found that in the case of analysed PP cows with the locomotion score 4 led to reduction in the milk production by 11% in third stage of lactation compared to the healthy PP. PP cows with locomotion score 4 less frequent went to milking robot and was characterized by the lowest daily milk production.